Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02748210 2011-06-22
[DESCRIPTION]
[Invention Title]
SNOWBOARD BINDING
[Technical Field]
[1] The present invention relates to a snowboard
binding, and more particularly, to a snowboard binding in
which a foot cover and high back simultaneously fix the
front and rear of boots as a result of the pivoting of the
lever in a locking direction of the lever, and release of
the lever is prevented.
[Background Art]
[2] Generally, a snowboard is drawing much attention
as one of winter sports, together with ski. To enjoy
snowboarding, a board, boots which ensure smooth movement
of snowboarders' feet and a binding connecting the board
and the boots are required. The binding is classified into
a soft binding, a step-in binding, and a strap binding. The
strap binding is most widely used.
[3] As shown in FIG. 1, the strap binding includes a
base plate 1 which is coupled to the snowboard to be
adjusted, a heel supporter 2 which is coupled to the base
plate 1 to be adjusted and supports heels of boots, and a
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high back 3 which is mounted in the heel supporter 2 and
supports an ankle. First and second joints 4 and 5 are
formed in a lateral side of the base plate 1 to tighten
ankle and the top of the foot to a second side of the base
plate 1 and include buckles, respectively. First and second
straps 6 and 7 are mounted in the second side of the base
plate 1 to be inserted into the buckles mounted in the
first and second joints 4 and 5.
[4] The strap binding well fixes boots without any
gap, and does not affect the fixing of the boots even by a
shock during riding. However, to fix the boots to the
binding, the first and second joints 4 and 5 should be
mounted in the first and second straps 6 and 7, and a user
should not fix the boots to the binding quickly and should
repeat the same motion to couple them and may feel
inconvenient in using the strap binding.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Problem]
[5] The present invention has been made to solve the
problems and it is an object of the present invention to
provide a snowboard binding in which a foot cover and high
back simultaneously fix the front and rear of boots as a
result of the pivoting of the lever in a locking direction
located in the rear of the high back.
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[6] Also, it is another aspect of the present
invention to provide a snowboard binding in which first and
second wires provide tension to a locking direction of the
lever and prevent a release of the lever when the lever is
set as locked.
[7] Further, it is another aspect of the present
invention to provide a snowboard binding which covers the
front area of boots as toe and ankle areas of the foot
cover are pulled by a first wire, and enables a high back
provided in the rear of the boots to support the rear part
of the boots by the first wire pulling the foot cover to
thereby firmly fix the boots.
[8] Further, it is another aspect of the present
invention to provide a snowboard binding which adjusts a
length of the first wire at both sides and adjusts such
length according to a user's shape.
[Technical Solution]
[9] In order to achieve the object of the present
invention, a snowboard binding comprises a base which forms
a plate attached to a snowboard and a side wall extending
vertically from both sides of the plate; a high back which
is rotatably installed in the side wall in the rear of the
base; a foot cover which is installed at a distance from
the upper front of the base; a first wire which connects
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the high back to the base and foot cover; and a lever which
is installed to pivot on the back of the high back and
moves the foot cover as the length of the first wire
connecting the lever to the high back varies depending on
the pivot direction, wherein the first wire connected to
the high back is connected to the side facing the pivot
axis.
[10] The first wire has a spring inserted thereinto to
provide an elastic force in a direction spacing the foot
cover from the base in an area exposed between the base and
the foot cover and high back.
[11] The first wire has a tube inserted thereinto to
shorten an elastic distance of the spring.
[12] The first wire provides tension in a direction
maintaining a pivot location of the lever while the lever
pivots in a pulling direction.
[13] The base forms a path in a front end of the side
wall to be penetrated by the first wire.
[14] The high back forms connection paths on both
sides of a center thereof to be penetrated by the first
wire.
[15] The foot cover forms a first path penetrated by
the first wire connecting the foot cover and paths on both
side walls of the base, a second path penetrated by the
first wire connecting the path in a lateral side of the
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base and the connection path of the foot cover and high
back, and a third path penetrated by the first wire
connecting the path in the side wall of the base and the
connection path of the foot cover and high back.
[16] The lever comprises a length adjusting means to
adjust a length of the first wire.
[17] The length adjusting means comprises a rotating
member forming a female screw therein and rotatably
installed in the lever, and a male screw formed in an end
part of the first wire and coupled to the female screw of
the rotating member, which are provided in both ends of the
first wire.
[18] The length adjusting means further comprises a
moving body which has the rotating member rotatably
installed in both sides, forming a first uneven part shaped
like a saw tooth in a side facing the lever and forming an
opening vertically in a center thereof; a second uneven
part engaged with the first uneven part of the moving part
on a surface on which the moving body is installed; and a
coupling member penetrating the opening of the moving body
and coupled to the lever.
[19] The length adjusting means further comprises a
second wire which connects the base to the high back and
lever and prevents the high back from moving backward while
the lever pivots in a pulling direction.
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[Advantageous Effect]
[20] As described above, a snowboard binding according
to the present invention enables a foot cover and high back
to simultaneously fix the front and rear of boots as a
result of the pivoting of the lever in a locking direction
located in the rear of the high back.
[21] Also, a snowboard binding according to the
present invention enables first and second wires to provide
tension to a locking direction of the lever and prevents a
release of the lever when the lever is set as locked.
[22] Further, a snowboard binding according to the
present invention covers the front area of boots as toe and
ankle areas of the foot cover are pulled by a first wire,
and enables a high back provided in the rear of the boots
to support the rear part of the boots by the first wire
pulling the foot cover to thereby firmly fix the boots.
[23] Further, a snowboard binding according to the
present invention adjusts a length of the first wire at
both sides and adjusts such length according to a user's
shape.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[24] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional
snowboard binding.
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[25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a snowboard
binding according to the present invention.
[26] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the
snowboard binding according to the present invention.
[27] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the
snowboard binding, taken along line "Al" in FIG. 2.
[28] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the
snowboard binding, taken along line "A2" in FIG. 2.
[29] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the snowboard binding
according to the present invention.
[30] FIG. 7 is a lateral view of a locking state of
the snowboard binding according to the present invention.
[31] FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a release state of a
lever of the snowboard binding according to the present
invention.
[32] FIG. 9 is a lateral view of a pivot state of a
high back of the snowboard binding according to the present
invention.
[33] FIG. 10 is a front view of a first wire length
adjusting means of the snowboard binding according to the
present invention.
[34] FIG. 11 is a lateral sectional view of the first
wire length adjusting means in FIG. 10.
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[35] FIG. 12 is an operating sectional view of the
first wire length adjusting means of the snowboard binding
according to the present invention.
[36] <Description of numerals for major parts of
drawings>
[37] 110: base, 112a, 112b: side walls 114a, 114b:
paths, 120: high back
[38] 122a, 122b: connection paths 130: foot cover
131: first path 132: second path
[39] 133: third path 140: first wire 150: lever 151:
pivot axis 152: first insertion opening
[40] 153: second insertion opening 160: second wire
170: length adjusting means 171: moving body 173: rotating
body
[Best Mode]
[41] Prior to description, in several exemplary
embodiments, like numerals refer to like elements with the
same configuration which will be described in the first
exemplary embodiment as a representative and other
configurations which are different from those according to
the first exemplary embodiment shall be described in other
exemplary embodiments.
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[42] Hereinafter, a snowboard binding according to the
first exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
[43] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a snowboard
binding according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an
exploded perspective view of the snowboard binding
according to the present invention. FIG .4 is an exploded
perspective view of the snowboard binding, taken along line
"Al" in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of
the snowboard binding, taken along line "A2" in FIG. 2. FIG.
6 is a plan view of the snowboard binding according to the
present invention.
[44] As shown therein, the snowboard binding according
to the present invention includes a base 110 which is
attached to a snowboard, a high back 120 which is installed
in the rear of the base 110 and supports the rear of boots
B, a foot cover 130 which is installed in an upper front of
the base 110 and supports the top of the boots B, a first
wire 140 which connects the base 110 to the foot cover 130
and high back 120, a lever 150 which is installed to pivot
on the back of the high back 120 and adjusts a length of
the first wire 140, a second wire 160 which connects the
base 110 to the high back 120 and lever 150 and fixes a
location of the high back 120 while the lever 150 pivots in
a direction pulling the foot cover 130, and a length
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adjusting means 170 which is provided in the rear of the
lever 150 and adjusts a length of the first wire 140
depending on the size of the boots B.
[45] The base 110 forms a plate 111 attached to the
snowboard, side walls 112a and 112b extending vertically
from both sides of the plate 111, and paths 114a and 114b
provided in a front end of the side walls 112a and 112b and
penetrated by the first wire 140. The base 110 forms the
paths 114a and 114b penetrating the side walls 112a and
112b by assembling a cover 115, wherein a part of the paths
is formed in a plate surface of the side walls 112a and
112b, and the remaining part of the paths conforming to the
path of the side walls 112a and 112b are formed in an
internal surface of the side walls 112a and 112b. Otherwise,
the paths 114a and 114b which penetrate the side walls 112a
and 112b may be formed by forming the paths 114a and 114b
on the plate surface of the side walls 112a and 112b and
then assembling the cover 115 thereto (refer to FIG. 4).
[46] The high back 120 is installed to pivot by a
hinge shaft H penetrating the rear end of the side walls
112a and 112b of the base 110, and supports the rear of the
boots B when pivoting substantially vertically. The high
back 120 forms connection paths 122a and 122b on both sides
of a lower part thereof to be penetrated by the first wire
140, connection hooks 124a and 124b on both sides in a
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center thereof to be penetrated by the second wire 160, and
a bracket 126 on an upper side of the central part thereof
to be assembled with the lever 150 to pivot.
[47] The foot cover 130 is installed at a distance
from the upper front of the base 110, and forms a first
path 131 penetrated by the first wire 140 connecting both
paths 114a and 114b of the base 110, a second path 132
penetrated by the first wire 140 connecting the path 114a
of the side wall 112a of the base 110 to the connection
path 122b of the high back 120, and a third path 133
penetrated by the first wire 140 connecting the path 114b
of the side wall 112b of the base 110 to the connection
path 122a of the high back 120. The first path 131 is
formed in a location corresponding to the lower part of the
top of the foot, i.e., toes in the foot cover 130, and the
second and third paths 132 and 133 are formed to be
perpendicular to each other in a location corresponding to
the top of the foot.
[48] The first wire 140 connects the high back 120 to
the base 110, foot cover 130 and lever 150, and includes a
covered metal wire according to the present exemplary
embodiment. The first wire 140 includes a coil-type
compressed spring 142 which is exposed between the base 110
and the foot cover 130 and high back 120, and a tube 144
which is used to shorten an elastic distance of the spring
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142. The first wire 140 supports the foot cover 130 in a
direction spaced from the base 110 and the high back 120.
[49] The lever 150 is assembled to pivot on the rear
of the high back 120, and forms a pivot axis 151 assembled
to the bracket 126 of the high back 120, and first and
second insertion openings 152 and 153 in a location spaced
from the pivot axis 151 to insert the first and second
wires 140 and 160 thereinto, respectively.
[50] The second wire 160 includes a covered metal wire
like the first wire 140. While a first end of the second
wire 160 is fixed to the side wall 112a of the base 110, a
second end thereof is fixed to the side wall 112b of the
base 110 through the connection hook 124a of the high back
120, the second insertion opening 153 of the lever 150 and
the connection hook 124b of the high back 120.
[51] The length adjusting means 170 is formed in a
location communicating with the first insertion opening 152
of the lever 150 to adjust the length of the first wire 140.
The length adjusting means 170 includes the moving body 171
including a first uneven part 171a formed in a lateral
surface facing the lever 150, an opening 171b formed
vertically on a center of a place surface, an installation
groove 171c formed in both sides of the opening 171b and a
guiding groove 171d formed in an upper direction of the
installation groove 171c to communicate therewith; a second
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uneven part 172 formed in a plate surface of the lever 150
and engaged with the first uneven part 171a of the moving
body 171; a rotating member 173 forming a female screw 173a
on a center thereof and rotatably inserted into the
installation groove 171c of the moving body 171; a male
screw 174 formed in an end part of the first wire 140 and
coupled to the female screw 173a of the rotating member 173
by screw; and a coupling member 175 coupled to the lever
150 through the opening 171b of the moving body 171 and
fixing the moving body 171 to the lever 150.
[52]
[53] Hereinafter, an operation of the snowboard
binding according to the first exemplary embodiment will be
described.
[54] FIG. 7 is a lateral view of a locking state of
the snowboard binding according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a lateral view of a release state of the lever
150 of the snowboard binding according to the present
invention. FIG. 9 is a lateral view of a pivot state of the
high back 120 of the snowboard binding according to the
present invention.
[55] As shown in FIG. 7, when the high back 120
rotatably installed in the rear of the side wall 112a of
the base 110 through the hinge shaft H stands vertically
and the lever 150 pivots in the locking direction, the foot
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cover 130 is pulled to the base 110 by the first wire 140
and the high back 120 is limited in pivoting to the
unlocking direction, i.e., to the rear side by the second
wire 160.
[56] Referring to the installation state of the first
wire 140, while the first end of the first wire 140 is
fixed to the first side of the lever 150, a second end of
the first wire 140 is fixed to the second side of the lever
150 through the connection path 122a of the high back 120,
the third path 133 of the foot cover 130, the path 114b of
the base 110, the first path 131 of the foot cover 130, the
path 114a of the base 110, the second path 132 of the foot
cover 130 and the connection path 122b of the high back 120
(refer to FIG. 6).
[57] If the lever 150 pivots in a direction pulling
the foot cover 130, i.e., in a locking direction as in FIG.
7 while the base 110 is connected to the foot cover 130,
high back 120 and lever 150 by the first wire 140, the
first wire 140 connected to the first insertion opening 152
of the lever 150 through the connection path 122a of the
high back 120 is pulled. The first wire 140 connecting the
foot cover 130 and high back 120 is pulled in the direction
of the lever 150 as a result of the pivoting of the lever
150, and pulls the rear end of the foot cover 130 to the
high back 120. Then, the first wire 140 connecting the foot
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cover 130 and the base 110 pulls the front end of the foot
cover 130 to the base 110.
[58] As the foot cover 130 is pulled to the high back
120 and the base 110 as a result of the pivoting of the
lever 150, tow and top areas of the boots located among the
base 110, high back 120 and foot cover 130 are firmly
tightened.
[59] The connection path 122a of the high back 120 and
the first insertion opening 152 of the lever 150 are formed
in a side facing the direction in which the lever 150
pivots in a release direction based on the pivot axis 151
of the lever 150. Accordingly, while the lever 150 pivots
in the locking direction, the first wire 150 connecting the
high back 120 and the lever 150 pulls the lever 150 in the
locking direction and the pivoting of the lever in the
release direction is prevented.
[60] The foot cover 130 maintains a predetermined
distance from the base 110 by the tube 144 and spring 142
inserted into the external side of the first wire 140
exposed between the foot cover 130 and the high back 120
and base 110 while being connected to the base 110, high
back 120 and lever 150 by the first wire 140, and the
spring 142 maintains an elastically compressed state.
[61] Referring to an installation state of the second
wire 160, while a first end of the second wire 160 is fixed
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to the side wall 112a of the base 110, a second end thereof
is fixed to the side wall 112b of the base 110 through the
connection hook 124a of the high back 120, the second
insertion opening 153 of the lever 150 and the connection
hook 124b of the high back 120 (refer to FIG. 6).
[62] Like the first wire 140, the connection hook 124a
of the high back 120 and the second insertion opening 153
of the lever 150 are located in a side facing the direction
in which the lever 150 pivots in a release direction based
on the pivot axis 151 of the lever 150. Accordingly, while
the lever 150 pivots in the locking direction, the second
wire 160 connecting the connection hook 124a of the high
back 120 and the second insertion opening 153 of the lever
150 maintains a tightly pulling state and provides tension
in the locking direction of the lever 150, and thus the
pivoting of the lever 150 in the release direction is
prevented. As the second wire 160 between the base 110 and
the high back 120 is pulled tightly, the high back 120 is
prevented from pivoting backward.
[63]
[64] The releasing operation of the snowboard binding
according to the present invention will be described.
[65] If the lever 150 rotatably assembled to the
bracket 126 of the high back 120 by the pivot axis 151
pivots in the release direction (arrow direction) as in FIG.
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8, a distance between the first insertion opening 152 of
the lever 150 and the connection path 122a of the high back
120 indicated as "L1" in FIG. 7 becomes short as indicated
as "L2" in FIG. 8, and the pulling force of the first wire
140 to the foot cover 130 is released.
[66] If the first wire 140 becomes loose, the spring
142 which has been elastically compressed from the exposed
part of the first wire 140 restores to its original state
and spaces the foot cover 130 from the base 110 and the
high back 120.
[67] Also, as the distance between the connection hook
124a of the high back 120 and the second insertion opening
153 of the lever 150 becomes short, the second wire 160
connecting the base 110 to the high back 120 and lever 150
and fixing the locking location of the high back 120
becomes loose, and the high back 120 may freely pivot
centering on the hinge shaft H.
[68] When the high back 120 may pivot as in FIG. 9,
the high back 120 fully pivots backward to increase the gap
between the high back 120 and the foot cover 130. In such a
state, the high back 120 does not interfere with the heel
of the boots, and the boots may be easily put on or taken
off.
[69]
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[70] The locking operation of the snowboard binding
according to the present invention is performed in a
reverse order of the release operation. As in FIG. 9, if
the high back 120 pivots to support the heel of the boots
as in FIG. 8 and the lever 150 in the rear of the high back
120 pivots in the locking direction as in FIG. 7 while the
boots are insertd into the space between the foot cover 130
provided at a space from the front end of the base 110 and
the high back 120 rotatably installed on the rear of the
base 110 as in FIG. 9, the first wire 140 is tightly pulled,
and the foot cover 130 simultaneously tightens the toe and
angle areas of the boots, and the second wire 160 is
tightly pulled and fixes the locking location of the high
back 120.
[71] Accordingly, the present invention enables a user
to fix or release the foot cover 130 of the front part of
the boots and the high back 160 in the rear part of the
boots at a time by using the lever 150 and is promptly
attached or detached and is easy to use.
[72]
[73] FIG. 10 is a front view of the first wire length
adjusting means of the snowboard binding according to the
present invention. FIG. 11 is a lateral sectional view of
the first wire length adjusting means in FIG. 10. FIG. 12
is an operating sectional view of the first wire length
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adjusting means of the snowboard binding according to the
present invention.
[74] As shown in FIG. 10, while the rotating member
173 is rotatably inserted into the installation groove 171c
of the moving body 171 provided in the rear of the lever
150, an end part of the first wire 140 inserted into the
inside of the lever 150 through the first insertion opening
152 of the lever 150 is inserted into the rotating member
173.
[75] The male screw 174 formed in an end part of the
first wire 140 is coupled to the female screw 173a of the
rotating member 173 by screw, and the length of the first
wire 140 is adjusted along a rotation direction of the
rotating member 173. The rotating member 173 is provided in
both ends of the first wire 140, respectively, and both
sides of the first wire 140 may be individually adjusted
according to a user's shape.
[76] As in FIG. 11, the moving body 171 is fixed to
the lever 150 by the coupling member 175 penetrating the
opening 171b. The first uneven part 171a formed in the
internal side of the moving body 171 is engaged with the
second uneven part 172 formed in the rear of the lever 150
and the vertical movement is limited.
[77] If the coupling member 175 is rotated in a
release direction and the moving body 171 is released as in
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FIG. 12, the first uneven part 171a of the moving body 171
is separated from the second uneven part 172 of the lever
150 and the moving body 171 moves vertically within the
scope of the opening 171b of the moving body 171. The first
wire 140 whose both ends are controlled by the moving body
171 is adjusted in length by the vertical movement of the
moving body 171.
[78] As described above, in the case of the first wire
140 whose both ends are controlled by the moving body 171,
the length of both ends of the first wire 140 is adjusted
at a time if the first wire 140 moves vertically with
respect to the moving body 171. If the rotating member 173
installed in both sides of the moving body 171 is rotated,
the first wire 140 in both sides may be adjusted
individually and the length of the first wire 140 is
adjusted in duplicate through the vertical movement of the
moving body 171 and the rotation of the rotating member 173
to thereby increase the scope of adjusting the length of
the first wire 140 within a narrow area.
[79]
[80] Although a few exemplary embodiments have been
shown and described, it will be appreciated by those
skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles
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and spirit of the invention, the range of which is defined
in the appended claims and their equivalents.
[Industrial Applicability]
[81] The present invention enables a foot cover and a
high back to simultaneously fix the front and rear of boots
as a result of the pivoting of a lever provided in the rear
of the high back in a locking direction.
[82] Also, the present invention enables first and
second wires to provide tension in the locking direction of
the lever and a release of the lever may be prevented when
the lever is set as locked.
[83] Further, the present invention covers the front
area of the boots as the toe and ankle areas of the foot
cover are simultaneously pulled by the first wire, and
enables the high back located in the rear part of the boots
to support the rear part of the booths by the first wire
pulling the foot cover to thereby firmly fix the boots.
[84] Further, the present invention adjusts the length
of the first wire from both sides and adjusts the length of
the first wire according to a user's shape.
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